Connect with us

Subscribe for latest updates

What Qualities to Look for in Advanced Education When Preparing to Become a Training Professional

by Darwin on March 23, 2017

Before you can teach, you must learn. Therefore, to become a professional corporate trainer, you must have extensive experience in the corporate environment, to rival those who you will be training for corporate jobs. At the very least, you need a business-related bachelor degree and a few years of work experience, but the best trainers are well-prepared with impressive employment histories ― as well as a fair amount of advanced education.

Fortunately, a wide array of advanced education courses and programs can prepare you for a career in corporate training. Computer science, business administration, education, instructional design, human resources, and similar fields provide skills and knowledge that are especially valuable in training scenarios, so pursuing degrees in any of these programs is a step toward career success. However, if you want to be certain that your advanced education will bring you success in the training industry, you must look for the following qualities in your prospective schools:

Accreditation

Regardless of whether you are seeking an advanced degree or merely taking a few classes to bolster your abilities, you should only attend educational institutions that are properly accredited. Accredited schools are recognized to adhere to specific standards so students who complete classes or programs will have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed. If you pay for schooling from a non-accredited institution, you are likely to receive less education and preparation for your career than you would from an accredited course.

Several different institutions grant accreditation, which means you might not always look for the same accreditations. For example, if you are looking for advanced business education, you should be enthused by an AACSB-accredited online MBA; whereas, if you seek a certificate in education, you might look for classes accredited by NCATE as well as appropriate local state accreditors.

Reputation and Ranking

Similarly, you should strive to attend a school that has a well-known and positive reputation. Just as Harvard Law and John’s Hopkins Medical are noteworthy graduate programs that scream “intelligent and capable,” the extra education you receive should tell future employers about your abilities.

Before you apply to certain schools, you should ask mentors, bosses, and training industry professionals for suggestions concerning respectable programs and classes. You might also investigate a school’s ranking. Most universities and the colleges within them are evaluated for their faculty’s renown, research opportunities, student services, and career opportunities and then compared against other programs. Contrary to what you might expect, the Ivy League doesn’t always top the charts.

Faculty and Students

Though reputation and ranking should tell you something about the professors and students at certain schools, you should consider doing more specific research into the professionals associated with your desired programs. Because your educational institution is a prime hunting ground for members of your business network ― which is especially important in the training industry ― a top priority should be applying to programs that boast admired and significant people within them.

Teachers as well as fellow students can impact the effectiveness of your network, so it is important to spend time evaluating both before enrolling in any courses. To determine whether the faculty is appropriately inspiring, you should read their bios on school websites and perhaps peruse their rankings on websites like RateMyProfessors ― though you might remember that spiteful students can easily bring down a teacher’s grade. Meanwhile, to uncover the quality of the student body, you should read about common career moves post-completion of the program or search for notable names amongst lists of graduates.

Flexibility

An aspiring corporate training professional hardly has time to become a full-time student, which makes a program’s flexibility among its most important qualities. Ideally, you should be able to schedule your classes around your existing employment schedule, so you can continue to gain work experience while you enhance your career prospects. Online programs are particularly adaptable because classes do not claim rigid timing, but night schools might also fit into your calendar.

Support

Finally, no student is an island; you will need guidance and support through your advanced education, and programs that offer extensive students services are far superior to those that don’t. Among the best support systems is career services, which will help you refine your job application materials and connect you with career opportunities. Additionally, programs might offer advice and assistance on your chosen career track, which for corporate training might include further certification with training organizations.

If you don’t have time for a degree program or don’t want to return to school, some learn how to become a training professional by first becoming a training or human resources assistant to gain experience and then work their way up the ladder from there. While earning relevant undergraduate and graduate degrees are the most common route on the way to becoming a training professional, it certainly isn’t the only route available.